Heartworm Disease, Treatment, and PreventionHeartworms are parasites that live within the heart and lungs of infected dogs and occasionally cats. Transmission The bite of an infected mosquito transmits the immature heartworm to your pet. The larva then migrates through the body and eventually finds its way to the heart where it matures into the adult form. It is within the heart that this parasite reproduces. Diagnosis A blood test is used to detect foreign proteins produced by the adult female heartworm. It is much better to detect heartworms BEFORE clinical signs of heartworm disease are present. Clinical Signs Signs of heartworm disease may include loss of appetite, weight loss, exercise intolerance, and coughing. Once clinical signs develop, heartworm disease may become life-threatening, and treatment becomes more difficult. Treatment Hospitalization is required for heartworm treatment. Chest x-rays and blood evaluation are necessary prior to treatment to evaluate the progression of heartworm disease and the patient's ability to withstand treatment. A drug called melarsomine (immiticide) is the current drug of choice used to kill adult heartworms. The treatment consists of a series of deep intramuscular injections of this drug into the muscles of the back. Once treatment has been completed, the patient returns home for approximately six weeks of strict CONFINEMENT. This means that ALL forms of exercise (running, jumping, playing) should be strongly discouraged. If this type of exercise restriction is not possible at home, boarding is strongly recommended. Major lung complications may develop if these recommendations are not followed during the post-heartworm treatment period. Mild coughing may be expected following heartworm treatment; however, any severe, persistent coughing should be reported to your veterinarian. Coughing up blood constitutes and EMERGENCY!!!! If microfilaria (baby heartworms) are present in the blood at the time of the initial treatment, the patient returns for one additional treatment four weeks later. The patient should return two weeks after the final treatment and again in three months for blood tests to confirm that all heartworms have been killed. Prevention The most important aspect of heartworm management is PREVENTION. Simply by giving prescribed medication to your pet on a once-a-month basis, you can prevent heartworm disease from ever occurring. This medication may be started as early as eight weeks of age and should be continued for the life of your pet. Heartworm preventive medication should also be started immediately following heartworm treatment. Search this website |